It's another NFL season, yet no aspect of the game of football has sparked as much criticism and controversy as the 'Tush push': a play that has become a symbol of the Philadelphia Eagles team. Evidently, their mind-blowing success with the play, alongside their Super Bowl triumph is what has kept them under the spotlight, with the National Football League now instructing referees to approach the tush push with some exaggerated detailedness and tightness.
The 'Brotherly Shove' was only two votes away from being banned during the offseason, with its critics highlighting player safety as the major concern, even if the statistics say otherwise. And the new season isn't seeming any different, with the play coming under fire again after the Super Bowl LIX rematch in game week 2.
The Eagles won 20-17, scoring their second touchdown of the game doing what they know how to do best: the tush push, although with a few violations in the process. These violations were at the centre of a National Football League training meeting among officials, where they had video reviews of certain incidents over the past two game weeks.
While reviewing the play, it was discovered that Eagles right guard Tyler Steen was to be penalised for a false start with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
As a result, the National Football League Vice President of officiating training and development, Ramon George, analysed the situation and urged officials to be more attentive and “tight" in officiating situations involving the tush push.
“Prior to the snap, looks like we have movement by the right guard. We also have movement coming across from the defensive side. This is a very hard play to officiate. I get it,” George said.
“You have a defender who tries to punch the ball but more so we have a false start coming from the right guard. You want to make sure that we officiate these plays tight and make sure that every aspect of the offensive team is legal and any movement, any lineman that’s not correct, we want to shut it down as a false start.”
He also highlighted the need for transparency and urgency in dealing with every phase of the tush play.
“We want to be black and white and be as tight as we can be when we get into this situation where teams are in the bunch position and we have to officiate them being onsides, movement early.”
Shifting the focus off the tush push, George called out other plays in a 19-minute video sent to officials, such as one where Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata was seen holding on a play while the Eagles faced Dallas in week one.
However, the tush push hasn't been bankrupt of supportive voices either, with Jason Kelce and Jordan Mailata making a case for it in the face of such overwhelming opposition.
The tush push remains a football play, and not an Eagles' play. Unfortunately, it's been treated as such. And while the Eagles can legitimately disagree with their critics, they must approach the play with caution and expertise, remembering that the play is only two votes away from its demise.
